Experts are still trying to determine whether the multiple quakes are foreshocks — smaller earthquakes before a major temblor — or whether they are part of an earthquake swarm of smaller quakes that could continue for weeks or months.
The emergency measure announced on the island of Amorgos follows a similar decision for nearby Santorini on February 7 after thousands of unusual tremors were registered in an undersea area near the two islands, as well as the islands of Ios and Anafi.
Santorini’s main villages are built along the rim of the volcano’s caldera — producing the dramatic scenery of cascading whitewashed houses and sunset viewpoints that make the island so popular, but also raising concerns in the event of a major earthquake.
Although Greece lies in a highly seismically active part of the world and earthquakes are frequent, it is very rare for any part of the country to experience such an intense barrage of earthquakes for such an extended period.
A second Greek island has declared a state of emergency as a series of earthquakes continued to rattle the popular tourist destinations.
